Inflation and disruptions in the market led to a drop in tourist arrivals, but also to an increase in the prices of services in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Officials warn that in order to adapt to the new situation, it is necessary to react urgently, first of all through the opening of borders and the seasonal abolition of visas for tourists from the Gulf countries.
There is a noticeable drop in arrivals, but also the cancellation of previously planned visits. In such circumstances, the tourism sector is looking for concrete measures that would mitigate the negative consequences of the global crisis.
Decline in arrivals
Statistical indicators that previously recorded the growth of income from the Gulf countries are now, due to global events, on the border between expected and real. The opening of air traffic and the abolition of visas stand out as key solutions.
Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), said that the problem is partly of a technical nature.
“We had a wrong announcement in the Official Gazette from the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. I hope that we will solve this issue soon and allow the arrival of tourists with whom we have no security challenges,” said Konaković.
Canceled arrangements
Apart from the decrease in arrivals, the Tourist Board also warns against the cancellation of arrangements not only from the countries of the Middle East, but also from Far Asia. Multi-million dollar investments are in the promotion of potential. This year alone, the Sarajevo Canton Tourist Board allocated 3.5 million marks for direct airlines.
“People fleeing war conflicts find refuge in hotels in Sarajevo. In the last two years, we allocated more than 10 million convertible marks,” said the president of the Sarajevo Canton Tourist Board, Haris Fazlagić.
The Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism says that it is necessary to work on the development of new strategies aimed at the wider market, because our country has great potential for this in its significant cultural and historical heritage and connecting East and West.
“There is something to offer for every tourist who wants to spend his vacation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The focus in the coming period should be on those markets,” emphasized Farida Cikotić, Assistant Minister of Environment and Tourism of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Image on the field
Raw materials do not arrive in Bosnia and Herzegovina from the countries of the Gulf, but tourists could arrive in greater numbers and mitigate the current decline in tourism. A prerequisite for this is the abolition of visas for the Gulf countries. In Baščaršija, in the heart of Sarajevo, there are noticeably fewer tourists than usual, and the occupancy of accommodation facilities has also decreased.
Citizens and tourism workers state that guests from European countries dominate, while tourists from Gulf countries are significantly less present.
“Most of them are from Turkey, there are also guests from China and other eastern countries, but there are fewer tourists from Arab countries,” said one of the surveyed citizens.
Others point out that currently the most numerous guests are from the region and Europe.
“Now they are mostly local guests – from Serbia and Slovenia, and there are also Italians and Spaniards,” said the interlocutor. federal.
Among the tourists who are already in Sarajevo, the impressions are positive.
“We visited several really beautiful destinations and we enjoy this city,” said a tourist from Italy.
With joint measures from the state level, through the entity level to the cantonal level, it is possible to ensure better utilization of the tourism potential that our country has.
